For greater than 32 million individuals, Slack has change into the instrument they open very first thing within the morning to get the workday began. And it’s change into the chief of the crew collaboration trade, simplifying individuals’s work and boosting their productiveness.
However not everybody is totally elated with Slack. And for those who’re involved by among the platform’s downsides, like limiting free plans, safety issues, or restricted customization choices, you’ve got many decisions.
I’ve used dozens of messaging instruments that supply capabilities just like Slack and work nicely for various kinds of groups. On this roundup, I’ve listed down the 25 greatest Slack alternate options to make distant collaboration a breeze.
The Greatest Slack Options
- Google Chat
- Chanty
- Microsoft Groups
- ClickUp
- Pumble
- Rocket.Chat
- Discord
- Brosix
- Mattermost
- Flock
- Ryver
- Glip
- Flowdock
- Fleep
- Twist
- HighSide
- Troop Messenger
- Wire
- Cisco Webex Groups
- Zoho Cliq
- Office by Meta
- Hive
- Basecamp
- Connecteam
- SmartSuite
1. Google Chat
- Obtainable on: Android, iOS, macOS, Home windows, and internet
- Value: Free for Gmail Customers. Beginning at $7.20 a consumer per 30 days for Google Workspace.
Google Chat is a Slack various constructed into Gmail, and you’ll chat with anybody who additionally has a Gmail account, whether or not that account is paid or free.
I’ve typically used Google Chat to share undertaking updates with shoppers, and its neat interface has been fairly seamless.
Professional tip: You may additionally be capable of use Google Meet with Google Chat to host audio and video calls along with your crew. Mixed with Google’s suite of instruments, Google Chat is a feature-packed Slack various for Gmail customers.
2. Chanty
- Obtainable on: Mac, Home windows, Android, iOS
- Value: Free model. Paid plans begin at $3 a consumer per 30 days
Chanty is a straightforward crew chat instrument for small and medium-sized groups.
Like Slack, you may talk in private and non-private channels and thru one-to-one conversations. I like how Chanty organizes all of your recordsdata, hyperlinks, duties, and conversations into folders in a characteristic referred to as Teambook.
Typically, Chanty’s built-in activity supervisor and intuitive interface make the chat instrument a stable Slack various for much less tech-savvy customers.
However that stated, for those who’re a techie and love establishing automated workflows like I do, you may join Chanty with many apps by Zapier with out an excessive amount of trouble.
3. Microsoft Groups
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, and Internet
- Value: Free for as much as 100 video members. Paid plans begin at $4 a consumer per 30 days.
Microsoft Groups is primarily focused in the direction of enterprise corporations. It comes together with certainly one of Microsoft Workplace 365 plans.
Nevertheless, for those who don’t have certainly one of these plans — like me, you can begin with the freemium model of the instrument.
Whereas attempting the free model, I discovered that it consists of all of the important crew chat options like instantaneous chats, audio/video calls, and integrations. It additionally gives integrations throughout all Workplace 365 merchandise and greater than 250 apps and companies.
Professional Tip: Microsoft Groups isn’t the best app to deploy, so ensure that your crew admin is tech-savvy.
4. ClickUp
- Obtainable on: Android, Pc, iPhone & iPad, and Internet
- Value: Free Ceaselessly plan. Paid plans begin at $7 a member per 30 days
ClickUp is an all-in-one undertaking administration instrument providing a wide range of instruments and customization options to assist customers collaborate and talk. I’ve typically used ClickUp to collaborate with shoppers and share real-time updates with its Chat view.
I significantly like how customers can embed pages and movies, in addition to format messages, to incorporate code blocks and bulleted lists for a transparent and concise message. ClickUp’s Chat view is tremendous useful to remain organized and immediately chat with anybody.
5. Pumble
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Internet
- Value: Free with limitless customers. Paid plans begin at $2.49 a month.
Pumble is a enterprise communication instrument with a various set of options comparable to channels, direct messages, threads, voice and video messages, and 1:1 voice and video conferences.
I additionally observed that Pumble has a helpful visitor entry characteristic that enables groups to incorporate third events like contractors, distributors, freelancers, and shoppers of their workspaces.
It gives two extra perks that give it an edge over Slack: every consumer on the free plan has limitless entry to message historical past and 10GB of storage per workspace with no cut-off dates.
6. Rocket.Chat
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Internet
- Value: Free as much as 1K customers. Paid plans begin at $7 a consumer per 30 days
Rocket.Chat is a free, open-source Slack various that allows you to tailor the feel and appear of your crew communication setup to your personal model. Certainly one of Rocket.Chat’s greatest options is the benefit of migration. All you have to do is export your recordsdata from Slack and add them to Rocket.Chat.
Professional tip: I additionally discovered a number of helpful options on this instrument, like real-time translation, dwell chat shopper, and E2E encryption, making it a Slack various that’s undoubtedly value a glance.
7. Discord
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Internet
- Value: Free. Paid plans begin at $9.99 per 30 days.
Whereas Discord has conventionally been a go-to app for avid gamers, it might additionally assist groups collaborate successfully—due to its wealthy performance and limitless message historical past.
After I first began utilizing Discord for work, I figured that you can simply implement the idea of Slack’s personal and public channels utilizing channel settings. It’s additionally the one app on this record that gives push-to-talk options.
Professional tip: Remember that Discord might not have integrations greatest fitted to work. However for those who want a free area to speak by way of textual content, voice, or video, Discord might be a superb possibility for you.
8. Brosix
- Obtainable on: Home windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Internet
- Value: Free for as much as 3 customers. Paid plans begin at $4 a consumer per 30 days.
Brosix is a user-friendly messaging platform with a safe personal crew community, enabling exact consumer administration. I attempted a bunch of options in its On the spot Messenger, together with end-to-end encryption to make sure information safety, environment friendly peer-to-peer (P2P) file switch capabilities, and safe instantaneous messaging.
What’s extra, it gives chat rooms for collaboration, real-time communication, and help for each cellular and internet purposes.
9. Mattermost
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, Internet
- Value: Free for as much as 10 customers. Paid plans begin at $10 a consumer per 30 days.
Mattermost is one other standard Slack various. This open-source answer is totally customizable to fulfill your organization’s wants. It’s also possible to implement Mattermost with personal cloud internet hosting or a self-managed server.
What impressed me essentially the most was how this answer is deployed by main organizations like NASA due to its safety features and uptime.
It’s purpose-built for technical and operational groups with particular performance for maximizing effectivity, like id and entry controls, compliance auditing & reporting, and information management.
Professional tip: Mattermost helps greater than a dozen languages, making it an ideal match for world groups.
10. Flock
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Internet
- Value: Free for as much as 20 customers. Paid plans begin at $4.50 a consumer per 30 days.
Flock is a office chat software program that claims to run sooner than Slack. In addition to all of the common communication options like instantaneous chat, audio, and video calls, I found that Flock gives built-in polls, reminders, notes, and to-do snippets.
Flock’s freemium model is restricted to 10,000 searchable messages. Paid plans unlock useful options like display screen sharing and limitless message historical past. I believe its interface is far simpler to navigate than Slack’s.
11. Ryver
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, and Internet
- Value: Beginning at $69 per 30 days for as much as 12 customers.
Ryver is a crew communication instrument identified for its built-in activity supervisor that turns messages into duties, and you’ll handle them with Kanban boards.
Like Slack, Ryver enables you to talk by open boards, personal teams, and direct messages. I additionally tried its characteristic to make voice and video requires as much as 5 customers per name. And you probably have a Zapier account, you can too combine Ryver into your favourite apps in a snap.
12. Glip
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, and Internet
- Value: Free as much as 100 members, Paid plans beginning at $30 a consumer per 30 days.
Glip is a crew collaboration instrument developed by RingCentral. Whereas Slack has configurable options, making it a one-size-fits-all crew chat app, Glip has built-in options like duties, calendars, and notes.
You’ll be able to join Glip to different apps by Zapier or certainly one of its greater than 20 customized integrations.
I used to be impressed to see how Glip gives a set of instruments for particular use instances, like clever telephone options. You get a enterprise SMS platform and a cloud telephone system — good for gross sales groups.
13. Flowdock
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Internet
- Value: Paid plans begin at $3 per consumer per 30 days.
Flowdock is one other Slack various that organizes dialog by threads.
All threads are color-coded so you may simply navigate between matters and set up your crew’s communication. I discovered their interface to be extra cluttered than Slack, however the choice to color-code threads is useful in sorting conversations.
Flowdock additionally options open, invite-only, and one-to-one chats. That is nice for internet hosting various kinds of conferences, like every day stand-ups, weekly syncs, or month-to-month critiques. What’s extra, you may join Flowdock to greater than 100 of your favourite apps.
14. Fleep
- Obtainable On: Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
- Value: Free as much as 10GB of file storage. Paid plans begin at €5 per consumer per 30 days billed yearly.
Fleep is designed across the thought of “conversations” the place customers can take part in a dialogue on a particular subject.
To make these conversations extra actionable, Fleep gives a characteristic referred to as “Activity” for assigning and coordinating work. Mix this with the “Pinboard” characteristic to let customers pin important messages, particulars, or bulletins to the aspect for simple entry.
Whereas 1:1 conversations are limitless throughout the board, I experimented with the freemium model. It gives restricted storage capability and might solely help three group conversations. For limitless group conversations, you will have to replace the Marketing strategy.
15. Twist
- Obtainable on: MacOS, Home windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Internet
- Value: Free. Paid plans begin at $6 per consumer per 30 days.
Twist is a perfect communication software program for asynchronous groups.
Its mannequin strikes away from real-time conversations into “deeper, structured communication” by way of their “Threads” characteristic. As an alternative of a bunch chat, customers should designate a particular ”thread” for conversations associated to a subject.
One-on-one and small group chat can also be obtainable for conversations that do not require threads.
After signing up for the freemium model, I discovered that you simply get a one-month restrict on search historical past and 5GB most file storage — just like Slack’s free model.
16. HighSide
- Obtainable On: Home windows, MacOS, Ubuntu, iPhone, Android
- Value: Paid plans begin at $12 a consumer per 30 days.
HighSide is a superb selection for crew communication for organizations with superior safety wants. This instrument gives end-to-end encryption, authentication, and safe cloud storage.
Its infrastructure may even provide help to guarantee compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, and extra. I additionally discovered a Microsoft Groups extension to assist in working securely throughout apps.
Professional tip: In addition to securing your communications, this instrument gives all important capabilities to work along with your crew, like file-sharing, audio + video messaging, information analytics, and compliance regulation.
17. Troop Messenger
- Obtainable On: Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- Value: Paid plans begin at $2.5 per consumer per 30 days.
One other nice Slack various is Troop Messenger, which has chat, audio and video calling, and screen-sharing capabilities.
However this app takes a lead over Slack with two distinctive options: audio messaging and distant desktop management, which permits your crew to take pleasure in a variety of use instances inside one answer.
I additionally discovered some attention-grabbing options within the premium model, like “Burnout.” It permits customers to collaborate confidentially for a specified period of time earlier than the historical past is eliminated.
One other one is “Reply Later” that will help you prioritize your communication with out forgetting something.
18. Wire
- Obtainable on: Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- Value: Not obtainable.
Wire is a personal messaging app with a core concentrate on safety. I discovered this to be one of the best Slack various in case your major concern is information privateness and safe communications.
This app relies on the world’s first open protocol designed for end-to-end encrypted communication. It additionally encrypts cross-platform messages throughout iOS, Mac, Android, and PC.
Professional tip: This is a perfect answer for corporations working within the public sector and enterprises. You’ll have higher choices to guard all data, not simply the confidential bits.
19. Cisco Webex Groups
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Free. Paid plans begin at $7 a license per 30 days.
Webex Groups is an enterprise-focused instrument for crew collaboration and video conferencing. Whereas Slack is extra fitted to small-mid-sized groups and startups, Webex caters to the wants of worldwide groups distributed throughout areas.
This Slack various integrates with OneDrive and SharePoint to make file-sharing simpler. In truth, you can too get gear just like the Cisco Webex Board to host board conferences and video calls.
20. Zoho Cliq
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
- Value: Free. Paid plans beginning at $8 for as much as 25 customers a month.
Zoho Cliq is one other one of many many instruments by Zoho. This real-time messaging software program is a less complicated, extra built-in various to Slack. Whereas its interface is fairly just like Slack, it leaps forward within the precise performance.
The instrument integrates nicely with different Zoho apps — CRM, HRM, monetary administration, and extra. So, you may nearly management your complete enterprise operations from one place.
Professional tip: Cliq’s model 5.0 has enterprise-grade safety choices with extra crew collaboration capabilities for video + audio conferences. It additionally consists of AI-powered automation to average all channels concurrently.
21. Office by Meta
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Not obtainable.
A Slack various by Meta, the social media large? I had the identical doubts as you after I found this instrument.
However on giving it a trial run, I spotted that is an superior crew collaboration platform with the interface of a social media app — enjoyable.
Throughout my trial, I discovered that Office is filled with options related for distant/distributed groups, like a information library, group chats, analytics, and integrations. It additionally has cool capabilities you received’t discover on Slack, like a dwell video broadcast (not a gathering) to make firm bulletins.
I additionally assume the Information Feed, identical to a Fb or Instagram feed, is ideal for sharing newest updates and wins throughout the board.
22. Hive
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Free. Paid plans begin at $12 a consumer per 30 days.
Hive is a undertaking administration platform with superior capabilities for groups to work collectively. I signed up for this app to see the way it fares towards Slack and found it’s an all-in-one platform for crew collaboration.
From time monitoring to automated workflows and analytics, Hive gives all the things you have to succeed with a big crew.
I significantly appreciated the flexibility to customise undertaking views and arrange automation guidelines for issues to maneuver shortly, even in my absence. Its built-in chat characteristic is simply pretty much as good as (if not higher than) Slack.
23. Basecamp
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Paid plans beginning at $4.50 a consumer per 30 days.
Basecamp is one other platform I’ve used as a Slack various whereas working with a shopper. Whereas the instrument is purpose-built for undertaking administration, it additionally gives crew collaboration capabilities just like Slack.
Basecamp reduces pointless notifications and noise you see on Slack. As an alternative, it enables you to create extra targeted discussions with Message Boards. You’ll be able to maintain all of the conversations and updates a couple of subject on a single web page.
Professional tip: I believe this app does a significantly better job at organizing details about initiatives than Slack, serving to to keep away from any information loss or repeated effort.
24. Connecteam
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Free. Paid plans begin at $29 a month for as much as 30 customers.
Connecteam is an excellent Slack various for non-desk staff. Its intuitive cellular app permits groups to attach with all staff in actual time with chat, bulletins, surveys, occasions, and a information base — speak about all-in-one!
I additionally discovered Connecteam a extra versatile various to Slack because it consists of three fundamental hubs: Operations, Communications, and HR/L&D. So, groups can flexibly run their complete enterprise from a single app or use it completely for crew collaboration.
25. SmartSuite
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Free, Paid plans beginning at $10 a consumer per 30 days.
Like all different instruments on this record, I additionally began a free trial of SmartSuite. It is a versatile answer that mixes all the things groups have to collaborate successfully — spreadsheets, undertaking dashboards, file sharing, calendars, and extra.
Professional tip: What amazed me essentially the most is how SmartSuite isn’t only a crew communication and undertaking administration instrument.
It consolidates real-time information for varied features like advertising, gross sales, HR, and enterprise operations. It’s also possible to arrange customized workflows to decide on the metrics that matter essentially the most to you and the way they need to be visualized.
Take Management Over Your Work with Slack Options
Regardless of its reputation for crew collaboration, Slack has its flaws. It may be costly for bigger groups and never customizable for smaller groups. There’s additionally a good bit of a studying curve to undertake its interface and lots of options totally.
I’ve personally tried and reviewed these instruments to make the choice simpler for you. For those who’re searching for one thing extra seamless, attempt certainly one of these Slack alternate options that will give you the results you want and your crew.
Editor’s observe: This publish was initially printed in September 2018 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
